Victorian House Plans - Architectural Designs (2024)

FAQs

Is it possible to build a Victorian style house? ›

Yes, you can still build Victorian houses. As stated earlier on this page, Victorian technically refers to a period rather than a style, so any home built in the present day would be in the style of a Victorian house.

These homes emphasize space, focusing on grandeur rooms with a sense of hierarchy. These homes often have 2-3 stories, with the living spaces, kitchens, and study rooms typically residing on the bottom floor while the bedrooms typically reside on the upper levels.

Victorian homes often have steep, imposing rooflines with many gables facing in different directions. The Second Empire Victorian style has a flat-topped Mansard roof with windows in the side to allow for maximum space inside the house.

Typically, most homeowners spend between $250,000 and $600,000. The average cost per square foot to build a Victorian-style home is $100 to $200. For homes with high levels of intricate Victorian architecture in their plans, the price can reach as high as $500 per square foot.

Old Louisville in Kentucky has the highest concentration of restored Victorian homes in the US. Originally called the Southern Extension, Old Louisville was built in the 1870s as a suburb, which was 48 city blocks long and filled with Victorian mansions.

Steeply pitched roofs: Victorian houses often have gabled or hipped roofs with intricate designs, such as turrets or dormer windows.

Victorian-era architecture is marked by its unapologetic devotion to ornament and flourish and its ornate maximalist interior design. While there are many different styles encompassed in Victorian-era architecture, some common features that will help you spot a Victorian from the outside include: Steeply pitched roofs.

Victorian architecture is a series of architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century. Victorian refers to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), called the Victorian era, during which period the styles known as Victorian were used in construction.

Unlike the modular builds of the modern era, Victorian-style architecture features elaborate roof lines, towers, and turrets. “Victorian homes often have steeply pitched roofs with multiple gables facing in different directions,” Scheck says.

How many styles of Victorian houses are there? ›

The classic Victorian styles (Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Stick Style, Romanesque Revival, and Shingle Style) were created by professional architects, and were built mostly by the well-to-do.

Poor structural integrity

As Victorian homes could be close to 200 years old, the possibility of structural issues is much higher than in a more modern home. Again, there may be tell-tale signs of structural issues as you look around a property. Cracks in walls, uneven plaster and loose bricks can all be warning signs.

Built to last: Most Victorian homes are around 150 years old, and they are usually as sturdy as they were when they were first made. Any house that has lasted that long with no major issues is definitely worth investing in.

Victorian homes tend to be more expensive than other simpler homes such as Cape Cods and ranches. They're typically bigger in size, because they have more floors, and the architectural details increase the price as well.

Usually these are custom houses, rarely a spec home put up by a developer. Unfortunately that interest has been dampened by the cost of trying to recreate that style. In many parts of the country there are enough old Victorian homes to satisfy the demand of the true aficionados of this style.

Although many Victorian homes were torn down in the U.S. in the 1950s, millions can still be found across the country. They're more common across the East Coast but can also be found on the West Coast. San Francisco, for example, is known for its iconic strips of colorful, Victorian-style houses.

In the United States, Victorian house styles include Second Empire, Queen Anne, Stick (and Eastlake Stick), Shingle, Richardsonian Romanesque, and others.